Sudan Fighting: Nasty, Brutish, Poor, Short And Solitary State Of Nature

The intense power tussle which skyrocketed into conflict in Sudan over rival groups; the army and paramilitary, Rapid Support Forces [RPF]. Life in Sudan is now short, poor, nasty, brutish and solitary, due the self-inflicted conflict which is placed as opposed to safety and wellbeing of people of Sudan. The RSF has accused the country’s military of violation of civilians’ human rights, however, they have worked together for years, before the growing fear that RSF might turn to be powerful, which will automatically reduce the power of the Sudan military, there is an attempt to justify the intense fight going on in Sudan, the same story of where power hawks cannot come to terms which is beneficial to the people rather than their own interest.

The leader of Rapid Support Forces [RSF], Mohamad Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, has reinforced his stance to protect the rights of the citizens, while alleging the country’s military violently attacking civilians. The leader of RSF has been carrying himself to be self-acclaimed, liberator who is trying to dismantle centralized religious thinkers in the army. Leaning to the Sudan’s political Islamic movement, which the army top officials are tied to, which came to power behind the coup of former authoritarian leader, Omar al-Bashir, more than thirty years ago.

While issue of human rights is barely in the ladder of the rival groups, the RSF, has been alleged to weaponised the issue of human right as the sole protector of it, while denying the share blame of their own atrocities. According to Emma DiNapoli, a legal expert specializing in Sudan, “I think there is a clear attempt from Hemedti, to dissociate himself from a legacy of his crimes and to distinguish between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces. I find it striking that he uses international law language to do this”. The citizens are without a doubt the greatest sufferers of this situation, while the actors sacrifice their safety at the altar of power struggle.

Related articles:

• African Dream: Outlining dreams and hope of Africans

• Decolonization of Mind: Africa’s greatest emancipation

• They are never true friends of Africa

RSF was carved out from the “Janjaweed” militias that pioneered mass killing in Darfur between 2003-2009. Under the government of al-Bashir they were recruited and armed to crack down a rebellion by mostly non-Arab rebel groups, which were protesting the neglect and exploitation of Darfur by Khartoum elites. Barely half a decade later, al-Bashir formally reintegrate these militias into the RSF. The group was looking to be recognized legitimately by portraying itself as a worthy partner for the European Union to counter migration, al-Bashir was forced out from power in 2019, after serious uprising.

While possibility of any real truce is out of sight, countries around the globe have started to evacuate its citizens. According to the World Health Organization [WHO], at least 413 people have been killed and more than 3,350 wounded in the first two weeks of the war. There is dire humanitarian situation emerging from the continuing fight, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors and Sudan’s Doctors Union have estimated that 39 out of 59 hospitals, in Khartoum and nearby states had to cease operations. The due to the high influx of casualties, the WHO warned that hospitals were running out of blood, medical equipment and supplies. 

While hospitals are closed because of the fight which forced medical doctors to largely rely online for consultations. To mark the brutish state of nature in Sudan, shops in Khartoum have also closed, leaving people without food and water. The horrible state of nature in Sudan is transcending from all aspect of human endeavours, the vulnerabilities and grave neglect of human rights have underscore the poor state of nature. Power struggle should be as civil as practicable, but it has been turned to show of might, between two army generals driven by their own interest and representation as opposed to wellbeing of Sudanese.

While there have been on and off truce which has prove no real effect, Sudanese people are fast leaving the country, because of the fear that comes with war. It is a really difficult time to draw line between the real intent of these warring generals, putting millions of lives not only in danger but on uncertain, these have disrupted the atmosphere in Sudan, to even extend tow whole African countries, if now seem to be a cause to worry about, as the war show no sign of halt, it is collective efforts to come to terms where the utmost agreement will be the safety and guaranteed atmosphere for the citizens.

It is sad to say that African Union is one of the weakest continental blocs; lack military strength, economic downtrodden and technologically backward, the list can go on. There is no proper and well informed policy guiding its members, this is a point where they have to come in and be mediator to drive home peace on the home soil. Africa Union is definitely far from European Union, however, they chose to be far from their counterparts, because they have the resources to turn Africa to a new dawn but everything is fundamentally wrong with the foundation, there is no unionism. On a broad day light Sudan turn the hand of clock to centuries back, now resort to brute force.